Man charged in killing of woman found dead in storage unit

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) - A western Indiana man has been charged in the slaying of a woman whose body was found last week in a storage unit where she had apparently been living with her alleged assailant.

Philip Michael Atterson of Terre Haute faces one count of murder in the killing of Sarah L. Henderson, 38, whose body was found Dec. 25 in the storage unit in Terre Haute. An autopsy found she died from sharp force injuries to the head, and her death was ruled a homicide.

Atterson, 29, had rented the storage unit where Henderson's body was found and both he and Henderson had apparently been living there, the Tribune-Star reported, citing court documents.

A man told police he called 911 on Dec. 24 after he saw that Henderson was dead in the storage unit and said Atterson then told him, 'Å“I did that, man," according to an affidavit.

That witness called 911, but a deputy who checked the storage facility that night found nothing unusual. Police using a cadaver dog found Henderson's body the next day in Atterson's storage unit after an anonymous call placed to Vigo County's dispatch center indicated Henderson might be dead in one of the units and that Atterson was involved.

Atterson appeared for an initial hearing Tuesday after surrendering Monday in Johnson County, south of Indianapolis. Online court records do not list an attorney who could speak on his behalf.